We all know about the benefits of water for beauty, but it is surprising to know that frozen water, i.e. ice, has many uses in beauty care. During hot summers in India, a cube of ice brings so much relief. It immediately has a cooling effect. It helps to shrink the pores and even stops sweating for a while. Yes, rubbing ice on the skin does have benefits, but one should remember not to apply ice directly on the skin, because it can damage the capillaries. Wrap ice cubes in a clean cloth and then apply it on the face gently, for a few seconds at a time. This should be done after cleansing. It can refresh the skin and even add a glow.
To make your foundation last, first cleanse the skin and then apply an astringent toner, using cotton wool. After a few minutes, wrap an ice cube in a clean cloth and apply it on the skin, for a few seconds at a time. This helps to close the pores. Or soak cotton wool pads in water with ice cubes and give the skin a cold compress. This also helps to close the pores and add a glow.
If there is any injury with swelling, we have heard how an ice pack reduces the inflammation and relieves pain. The same principle can be applied to reduce puffy eyes. Again wrap the ice cube in a clean cloth and apply under the eyes for a few seconds at a time. The skin under the eyes is very thin and this can result in broken capillaries if you apply the ice for longer periods. After threading or even waxing, ice applications do help. Very often the skin becomes reddish and slightly inflamed after threading. This can be relieved by applying ice, wrapped in a clean napkin or in cotton wool. The same can be done after tweezing your eyebrows at home. Ice can also be applied after waxing to reduce redness and inflammation.
Ice applications are also helpful in dealing with acne conditions. If acne eruptions look red and inflamed, ice would help the condition to subside. In fact, it would help to close the pores and even avoid acne. If you are in a rush and have no time to put on make-up, rubbing a few cubes of ice, wrapped in a clean cloth, can close the pores, add a glow and refresh the skin.
About the Author
Shahnaz Husain
Shahnaz Husain, pioneer of the herbal beauty movement, has received unprecedented global acclaim for taking India’s herbal heritage worldwide. She heads the largest organization of its kind, with a global network of franchise ventures and 375 Ayurvedic formulations. Harvard Business School conducted an interview with her, which will be part of the Harvard entrepreneurship curriculum. She has received several prestigious international awards, as well as the Padma Shri Award. Indeed, Shahnaz Husain is a legend in her own lifetime.
